A 47-year-old man who vanished during a weekend camping trip with his fiancée near Big Bear Lake has been found dead, officials announced Tuesday.
San Bernardino County sheriff’s deputies said Brian Schofield was last seen at Yellow Post Campsite No. 33 in Fawnskin before going to bed at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday. Schofield’s fiancée reported him missing at 8:53 a.m. Monday after waking up and discovering he was gone.
Brian Schofield vanished in Big Bear on Aug. 2.
An extensive search was launched for Schofield, who was described as 6 feet 2 inches tall with brown hair and brown eyes.
Authorities moved quickly through the area after his fiancée made the discovery.
Schofield is described as 6 feet 2 inches tall, weighing approximately 180 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue T-shirt, camouflage shorts, orange hiking boots and a gray beanie.
Search and rescue teams fanned out across the wilderness area.
The updates came swiftly as deputies worked the case.
In an update Tuesday, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said Schofield was found deceased near his campsite. The cause of death remains under investigation, but officials said there were no signs of foul play.
Authorities did not release additional details about the circumstances surrounding Schofield’s disappearance.
The case shocked the camping community around Big Bear Lake, a popular recreational destination in Southern California’s mountains. The Yellow Post campsites are primitive, dispersed camping spots within the San Bernardino National Forest that operate on a first-come, first-served basis with minimal facilities.
In the viral moment that prompted alerts across the region, Schofield’s fiancée woke to find him gone after they both went to sleep at the remote campsite on the night of August 2. She immediately reported him missing early Monday morning. Deputies launched an extensive search through the forested terrain. By Tuesday, authorities had located Schofield near the campsite, bringing the search to a tragic close.